Homogenizer



Aug. 15, 1933.

G. J. MU SGROVE HOMOGENIZER Filed Jan. 10, 1928 2 Shets-Sheet 1INVENTOR. fieozye JMuayrove A TTORNEYJ- Aug. 15, 1933. vG, MUSGROV'E1,922,974

HOMOGENIZER Filed Jan. 10, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 N VEN TOR.

George JMusyrove A TTORNEY Patented Aug. 15, 1933 UNITED STATESHOMOGENIZER.

George J.- Musgrove, Washington, D. C.

Application J anuary 10,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a homogenizing valve and process ofhomogenizing cream and other liquids. 'i

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device and methodfor first thoroughly breaking the globules contained in the liquidundergoing treatment and thereafter to subject the cream to a moldingaction to impart to the cream a high viscosity and uniform texture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve of taperingformation cooperating with a seat of complemental formation, which valveis adjustable in character to regulate the degree of pressure by whichthe cream is molded.

Another object of the invention is to provide the molding valve with acorrugated extremity to break up the globules contained in the creamundergoing treatment before the same is subjected to a pressure tosecure increased viscosity and a uniform product.

More specifically, the invention comprehends the idea of providing aterminal pin, as a continuation of the valve body, cooperativelyarranged with the recess within the casing to in sure proper alignmentof the valve relative to the casing.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentto those skilled in the art from a reading of the followingspecification in conjunction with the drawings attached hereto andforming a part hereof in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation,

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section. 7

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, 1 represents the casingof the device having an inlet 2 and an outlet 3, and a central bore 4.Obviously the casing is secured to the cream conduit in any desired way.Attached to the upper end of the casing is a header 5 secured to thecasing by screws 6, to which header is threadedly secured a cap 7 withan interposed packing 8 between the cap and the nipple 9 of the header.Mounted for reciprocatory movement in the bore of the casing 4, Iprovide a valve 10 of tapering formation correspondingsubstantially tothe tapered formation of the bore 4 whereby to define a variable space11 regulated by adjustment of' the valve in a vertical direction. In thecasing there are a series of ports 12 for permitting the treated creamto escape upwardly in the bore and through the outlet 3.

Preferably, as a continuation of the valve, I 55, provide a portion 13having a series of circum- 1928. Serial No. 245,683

ferentially disposed corrugations 14 and serrations 15.

There-is also provided a depending pin 16 for the valve which engages acorresponding recess 17 for properly centering the valve and maintainingit in correct symmetrical alignment with respect to the casing. Thedevice also has an outlet 18 communicating with the recess 17 aforesaidand a valve 19 for securing proper drainage.

The valve 10 has secured thereto the stem 20 having the circumferentialshoulder 21 and a block 22 fitted thereabove and secured to the valve bymeans of screws 23. Obviously, a rotary effort imparted to the stem 20will secure the desired reciprocation of the valve.

It will be apparent that cream entering the inlet 2 will first besubjected to the action of the serrations and corrugations 14 and 15respectively for thoroughly breaking up the fat globules contained inthe cream, after which the cream emerges in the space defined by thecasing and the valve where it is subjected to predetermined pressure tosmooth it and increase its viscosity to the desired amount and impart toit a uniform texture.

I have found through commercial use of my invention that it obviates theformation of what are known in dairy practice as cream plugs whichordinarily result from devices providing too great a pressure or toosmall a pressure in 35 accordance with the'temperature of the cream.With the present device, no critical pressure is entirely necessary,which result I attribute to the action of first breaking the globulesand thereafter molding them. Obviously, the pressure may be regulatedaccording to the character of the cream and conditions to the viscositydesired.

A pump is secured to the outlet which causes the cream to be sucked intothe inlet of the device, and by means of which pump the same cream isthereafter forced over the roughened or corrugated surface, where it isbroken up into fine'particles, after which it is forced into the moldingchamber between the valve and casing where the fine particles are moldedinto a homogeneous mass by the pressure exerted between the walls.Ordinarily, the pumps employed with the device have three valves andconsequently the sucking and pumping can take place simultaneouslywithout interruption to the delivery of the homogenized body. Theso-called cream plugs referred to above is a product resulting fromincorporation of air into the butter fat and 11 0 so produces heavybutter fat which ordinarily in previous devices plugs the bottleopening.

It will be obvious to those skilledin the art that many changes may bemade in my invention without departing from the spirit thereof asexpressed in the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a homogenizer, the combination with a casing having a boretherein, a reciprocatory valve mounted Within the bore and spacedtherefrom to provide means for receiving cream to be molded, said valvehaving a roughened surface for breaking up the fat globules previous tothe introduction of the cream to the molding space.

2. A homogenized device comprising'a casing having a bore therein, aninlet and an outlet for the cream, an adjustable valve'within'the boreandproviding a molding space therehetween, said valve having at itslower extremity a roughened surface for breakine up the fat globulesbefore the introduction of the cream to the molding 'space, meansfor'adjusting the valve relatively to the casing to vary the pressure onthe cream, and a downwardly extending pin provided the device is firstsubjected to the roughened surface to break its fat globules andthereafter subjected to the pressure in the space between the valve'andcasing to mold the same, a recess within the casing and a centering pinterminating from the valve and mounted Within the recess'for centeringthe valve relatively to the casingto maintain a uniform circumferentialspace between the valve and casing, and a drain valve cperalcleto'discharge accumulated matter from the recess.

GEORGE J. MUSGROVE.

